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Side impact head restraint system

  • US 5,660,414 A
  • Filed: 11/02/1995
  • Issued: 08/26/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A restraint system for providing side impact protection for a motor vehicle occupant and adapted to be mounted to the vehicle adjacent the window area of a side door of the vehicle, comprising:

  • a restraint curtain having an upper edge affixed to said vehicle along the upper perimeter of said window area and having a lower edge having one end affixed to said vehicle and a second opposite end;

    a track mounted in a generally vertical orientation adjacent said window area and having a first end and a second end, said track having a longitudinal open slot extending between said first end to said second end, said track having a deflectable latching means adjacent said second end;

    a gas generator mounted to said track for generating gas in response to a crash signal and having a gas discharge nozzle; and

    a sliding projectile having a first end proximate said discharge nozzle and being moveable along said track and affixed to said restraint curtain second end, said projectile maintained in a position adjacent said gas generator at said first end of said track in a normal non-deployed condition with said curtain in a folded condition and wherein, in response to said crash signal, said gas generator generates gas discharging through said discharge nozzle thereby creating a gas pressure, said gas pressure causing said projectile to be propelled over a portion of said track, which is substantially less than the length of said track, until venting of said gas pressure occurs through said open slot, whereby said projectile travels along a remaining portion of said track to said second end only by the momentum imparted upon said projectile by said gas pressure, thereby pulling said curtain into a deployed condition covering at least a portion of said window area, said projectile engaging said deflectable latching means thereby maintaining said projectile at said second end, thus providing restraint for said occupant.

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